Tyre industry pioneers, Michelin has a long history. Having begun in 1889, Michelin is now the second-largest tyre manufacturer in the world after Bridgestone and larger than both Goodyear and Contineantal.
Stating that such an acquisition would be “in perfect strategic alignment with its ambition to leverage its expertise in high-technology materials,” Michelin has announced its intention to purchase UK-based firm Fenner PLC.
Alexandre Taisne, who has been responsible for the Michelin Group’s strategy and development of gastronomic and tourist activities since April 2017, will also take responsibility for the Michelin Guide selections. His current role will expand as of 3 April 2018. Michael Ellis, Michelin Guide international director, and his inspection teams will report directly to him.
The new-generation Michelin Pilot Sport tyre set to debut in the 2018/19 Formula E season will be lighter, more energy efficient and bear an even closer resemblance to road tyres than the first-generation Michelin tyre. Its introduction accompanies changes to vehicle technical specifications that come into effect at the start of the all-electric racing series’ fifth season.
The Michelin brand’s value has grown some 30 per cent to US$7.9 billion in the latest Brand Finance Tyres 10 ranking. As a result Bibendum is now the world’s most valuable tyre brand.
Michelin has launched a new CrossClimate tyre to take on the demanding conditions in which European van drivers increasingly operate. Having successfully rolled out the “summer tyre with winter capabilities” to the consumer market with two iterations of CrossClimates for cars and an SUV version, Michelin has extended the concept to light commercial operators with the Agilis CrossClimate. To mark its launch, Michelin demonstrated the tyre’s winter characteristics at a special test site in the French Alps. With the so-called Beast from the East providing the most extreme winter driving conditions the UK has seen in more than a decade as Tyres & Accessories goes to print, the appeal of products to handle such conditions while also suiting the mostly moderate climate in a market disinclined to fit winter tyres seems likely to receive at least a short-term boost.
Michelin has developed a new Pilot Sport Cup 2 K2 ultra-high performance tyre for Ferrari’s new 488 Pista supercar. The new model will run on 245/35 ZR20 (front) and 305/30 ZR20 (rear) sizes, with the tyre manufacturer’s latest generation road-legal track tyre co-developed specially with Ferrari.
Michelin has named Claire Dorland Clauzel’s successor as executive vice-president, Brands, Sustainable Development, Communications and Public Affairs. On 3 April 2018, Adeline Challon-Kemoun will join the Michelin Group and take on this role and will also will become a member of the Group Executive Committee.
Claire Dorland Clauzel, member of the Michelin Group’s Executive Committee and executive vice-president, Brands, Sustainable Development, Communications, Public Affairs and the Michelin Guide, has decided to end her career at Michelin, with effect from 31 March 2018, to pursue an entrepreneurial project.
Michelin Motorsport and Peugeot Sport UK/Ireland have joined forces to create the Michelin Peugeot Sport Cup, which will run in the 2018 Prestone MSA British Rally Championship for the 208 R2 in the Prestone MSA Motorsport News Junior BRC. The Cup will be open to any Peugeot 208 R2 crew in the Junior BRC that competes on Michelin tyres and uses Total oils supplied by Peugeot Sport UK/Ireland distributor Race & Rally. Crews will compete for a cash incentive based on their performance in the series; for the coming season, a total prize fund of £24,000 is available.
In the wake of last August’s launch at the 2017 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) of a new enduro tyre range, Michelin has now extended its line-up with the addition of two new Bib Mousse inserts for enduro and motocross use. These two new solutions are available for purchase from stockists from February 2018.
Scottish fuel firm Carnegie Fuels typically delivers to farms, industrial areas and residential properties that can often only be accessed on rocky off-road terrain – putting the 6×2 rigid tanker fleet’s fitments at an increased risk of stone cuts and ingress.
Following a visit from one of Michelin’s Technical Managers, Dan Lamb, last summer, owner Kevin Carnegie agreed to trial sets of Michelin X Works D drive axle tyres and XZY3 steer and tag axle fitments on two of his 13 delivery vehicles.
Consumers are increasingly likely to research their tyres online pre-purchase, regardless of whether they complete an e-commerce transaction. Peer review website Tyre Reviews has therefore become an influential destination in the car tyre market: discussing Tyre Reviews’s audience, owner, Jonathan Benson, states that 94 per cent of Tyre Reviews visitors are engaged in the tyre buying process, with its users predominantly “high earning, well educated, male automotive enthusiasts looking for the best possible product for their vehicle.” In 2017, the site delivered 25 million pageviews to tyre buyers, and claims to have influenced around “one-sixth of UK tyre sales.”
The Michelin Group has purchased a 20 per cent share in German automotive services provider A.T.U. (Auto-Teile-Unger). The minority stake was acquired from French automotive maintenance and repair services group Mobivia Groupe for 60 million euros; following the acquisition, Mobivia and Michelin intend to combine their expertise in order to further develop A.T.U. in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Jean-Dominique Senard has confirmed he doesn’t wish to stand for re-election upon the expiry of his current term as Michelin’s chief executive officer. This means he will step down at the close of the tyre maker’s 2019 Annual Shareholders Meeting, and Michelin is implementing a succession plan that will see Florent Menegaux take his place.
Michelin has purchased a 25 per cent stake in two tyre businesses in New Zealand, Tyreline Distributors Limited and Beau Ideal Limited, which trades as Beaurepaires. The shareholdings were acquired for an undisclosed sum, and owners the Rushbrooke family retain 75 percent ownership in the businesses.
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